You may have landed here because you Googled something along the lines of “How much do clinical trials pay?” When researchers want to find out how a medication or specific treatment works, they need participants to make that happen. Clinical trials examine the efficacy of treatments in human subjects, who participate voluntarily. Once deemed eligible for the study, individuals are sometimes compensated for their time. Trial payments will vary by study and typically account for a participant’s time, travel, and any inconvenience costs.
If you are interested in participating in a clinical trial, explore our Clinical Trial Resource Center, where you can find additional information about the experience, what to know, and where to find recruiting trials.
While some clinical trials compensate participants for their time and effort, this is not always the case. Some will reimburse subjects for expenses like travel or give back in the form of gift cards or public transportation vouchers.
When clinical trials pay participants for their time, it is not intended to substitute a salary. Instead, the payments are compensation for the participants’ time and participation in the trial.
Clinical trial compensation will depend on the study type and phase.
Sean Marchese, MS, RN, is a medical writer and registered nurse at The Mesothelioma Center who has worked as a clinical research coordinator for oncology trials. He says that not all clinical trials are the same.
“There is no real standard average,” Marchese told BlackDoctor. “Payment can vary widely depending on the time commitment, number of visits, type of procedures involved, and whether the study is covering expenses, compensating participation, or both.”
Lower-commitment studies, which typically involve infrequent visits, remote monitoring, and overall less time commitments from participants, have lower compensation rates than other trials. Some do not compensate at all, especially for those that involve simple surveys or questionnaires. A group of clinical trials conducted in 2015 offered payments ranging from $10 to $195.
Moderate clinical trials, which are more involved than a low-commitment trial but don’t involve as much participation or risk as an intensive trial, can pay in the range of a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
Intensive or Phase 1 clinical trials, which tend to involve the highest level of risk and time commitment for participants, often pay the highest rates. These trials tend to involve healthy patients and can pay anywhere from $100 to $10,000. Rates usually increase when things like overnight stays, invasive procedures, or higher health risks are involved.
Study duration, number of clinic visits, required medical procedures, travel distance, risk, or inconvenience can affect a clinical trial’s compensation. It usually depends on the trial and how demanding it may be, said Marchese.
“Things like how often someone has to come in, how long visits take, whether overnight stays are involved, and what kinds of tests or procedures are required can all affect how much a study pays,” Marchese said.
Clinical trials pay participants for several reasons. According to Marchese, it isn’t just an incentive.
“A lot of people think payment is meant to reward participation, but in many cases it is really there to reduce barriers,” Marchese said. “It can help offset things like travel, parking, childcare, missed work, and the general burden of taking part in a study.”
Here’s why some clinical trials pay their participants:
Many patients have anxiety about the safety of clinical trials. Marchese reminds volunteers that joining a trial always involves some amount of risk.
“Clinical trials are designed with multiple safeguards, but they are not risk-free,” Marchese said. “Every study is different, which is why participants need to understand the possible risks, benefits, and alternatives before they enroll.”
Black patients have historically been underrepresented in clinical trials and medical research, making it vital for them to volunteer. Not only can your participation help improve your own health, but it also helps the research team and the medical field know how best to care for future generations.
Some diseases are more common in people of color, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, due to varying factors like genetics, healthcare access, and systemic racism. If Black patients are not studied in treatment trials for these diseases, it is more likely that they will continue to experience the health gap in medical care. Participating in clinical trials can boost the health of your community and help to garner trust in medical professionals.
“Treatments need to be tested in the kinds of people who will actually use them,” Marchese explained. “If trial populations are too narrow, the results may not fully reflect how well a treatment works across the broader patient population.”
To find legitimate paid clinical trials, you can search ClinicalTrials.gov and BlackDoctor’s Clinical Trial Resource Center. Always ensure that the trial has been reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and has a National Clinical Trial (NCT) identification number. A legitimate trial should not ask you for payment or sensitive information.
Before you decide to join a clinical trial, you must advocate for yourself and your health.
Marchese recommends asking these questions before committing:
“They should also ask who will oversee their care and what happens if they decide to leave the study,” Marchese said.
While some clinical trials may compensate their subjects for their participation, this is not the case for every trial. Some may reimburse volunteers for their time and travel expenses, while others may pay larger sums according to the length and risk of the specific study.
If you are curious about the compensation factor of a clinical trial, make sure to advocate for yourself and ask questions before committing to participating in a trial.
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